Today, I will talk about one of the best values in my continuous light kit.
As a columnist for Fstoppers, I often find myself amused, sometimes cursed, when reviewing photo and video equipment. Many times it’s a new product on the market that I’ve contacted for a review. Other times it’s something I’ve seen on set or used by a colleague that I’d like to see in its steps. And sometimes, it’s the product I bought impulsively, loved, and couldn’t wait to share with my readers. The light that I am going to talk about today is of that second kind.
As I sit down to write this, I’m wearing olive green trousers. There’s nothing special about them. You won’t see them in any fashion magazine. You won’t even see me wearing them in many pictures, at least not any that I allow to be seen in public. But out of all the pieces of clothing in my closet, this particular pair of pants has probably been worn more than any other. Why? Homely. They are super comfortable. They are super realistic. They make my life easier. Best of all, these pants cost $8 at your local Goodwill store, which means they’ve made a lot more money than they did a long time ago.
I’m not telling you that story to try to sell you used olive pants. I tell you that story because it’s an example of how you make the most money. They are reasonably priced. Serve a specific need. Get to know a lot. And, quite frankly, just get the job done. In addition to all the influencer campaigns and promotional videos, I feel this is also the best way to think about photo and video gear. We can get lost in the headlines. Honestly, though, the most valuable devices in your kit are the ones you use the most, are the most reliable, and the ones that cause you the least problems. I have a lot of super expensive and fancy gadgets that make me seem more interesting than they really are to the outside world. But often, it’s the less-announced devices that really let me do my work in the first place.
First time I heard about amaranth COB 60d above Filming podcasts. I was listening to the podcast during the last mile of my fifteen-mile run early in the morning and my legs had gone about twelve miles. In the podcast, the host does a segment where they talk about a product they like and they mention COB 60d. In complete transparency, I spent a lot of money on constant lights this year. Like, too much. Actually, maybe not so much. In the still world, my flickering situation was resolved for a while. But, as my career took a turn in another direction, it became clear that my hot light collection was somewhat flawed. So now the camera condition has been resolved by Nikon Z9I spent most of my equipment budget this year on constant lighting.
Unlike the mixed success of my camera search in recent years, I pretty much love every lighting fixture I get my hands on. They all serve specific purposes. But they are all well thought out, if I may say so myself, and the finished picture is coming very well. So, in theory, I don’t really need to add another lamp. But, when the presenter mentioned the COB 60d, whether due to a real need or a lack of oxygen to the brain, I was intrigued. When I got home and realized the lights were only $169, I went to B&H and bought a pair.
It took me longer to describe how I purchased this lamp than to explain the lamp itself. It’s a fairly simple 65 W daylight-balanced COB LED fixture with a max output of 76 W and a CRI score of over 96. What sets it apart is the value of the light based on its utility. .
First of all, these are relatively small. When someone has a large array of table lamps and a huge array of metal holders to hold them, the lamp’s form factor, which is about 4 ½ square inches, is a breath of fresh air. They can fit into any small camera bag. Or, you can match a few of them. I say “several” because when they arrive, I immediately go back to B&H to buy more. We’ll get to that in a second.
With a small form factor, the lamp is incredibly powerful, producing 45,100 lux at one meter. For comparison, I have other lights like 300d . aputure, which I also love, but I rarely run at full capacity. That light is great, but is larger and takes more planning to set up due to traditional ballasts and other components. The COB 60d running at a higher wattage is capable of emitting similar light (compared to how I normally use my 300d). Plus, the COB 60d is self-contained, small, and has quite a few wall plugs. Or, perhaps more impressively, could be battery-powered or a traditional V-mount. This is important as this is the type of fixture that you may want to place in places that are harder to reach due to its size. Being able to power it with a reasonably priced battery without running the wires adds incredible logistical value. And it connects to Link Aputure Sidus app so I can control all devices remotely through my phone/tablet/etc. also control my other Aputure lighting products.
I mentioned that I usually use my 300d under its full capacity. This is important because it means the 60d can handle many of the day-to-day tasks I need it to do more easily. For example, the light is strong enough to shine through smaller softboxes or bounce off surfaces when illuminating a medium-sized room. And, again, due to the lower cost, you can get a lot of them for the price of many other units.
I even put together a small backpack containing five of these little lights. I can use them individually with the included reflector and/or the included socks to soften the light. I can group them together to make PAR lights stronger and bigger. I can take that and turn it off super-echo to create a big soft source. It has a Bowens mount built in, so it can be used with a lot of the existing modifiers in my kit. The versatility of this light is amazing. And, while its individual specs don’t match some of the others in my set, it does so many things well that it often becomes the first thing I hit when rendering. .
There are two variations of this light. What I have is a COB 60d. There is also a cob 60x, the difference is 60x variable, which means you can switch from daylight to tungsten. But the 60d is less expensive and more powerful, that’s why I chose it. Your choice may vary based on your needs and the rest of the tools at your disposal.
However, for me, the COB 60d is the perfect example of how to get a great image without breaking the bank. I’m lucky to be able to have so many options in my lighting options. However, if one is looking to build their own kit but is short on money, there are not many options that offer good value for your money. This lamp was such an impulsive purchase that I am happy to say it turned out to be a great purchase decision.
